Noctave and Dia spend the next day at the private royal beach to distract themselves from their family drama.

Dia went swimsuit shopping with Noctave because there aren't a lot of places to swim, since the ocean up there is freezing cold.

Dia showed her a light blue bikini with some lace details. "This seems like your style."

"It's a bit revealing..."

"It's a two-piece. Of course it's revealing."

Noctave shook her head. "I'd like a one piece instead."

Dia sighed. "Alright. How is it that you can wear all those layers in this heat?"

Noctave shrugged. "I think it's because of my parents not always responding to temperature. My dad could never feel the grip of winter, and my mom never knew heat from cold."

"Strange. Your family is very strange."

Noctave's voice had a hint of annoyance in it."That's not a bad thing."

"It isn't, but it's true. Are they going to have a divorce?"

Noctave gave Dia a side glare. "I thought we'd agreed not to talk about that."

Dia felt stupid, and soon apologized for her forgetfulness.

Noctave settled on a shiny sea-green one-piece that had a sort, lacy skirt. She used her witch hat as a sun hat, and basic light blue flip flops.

Dia's swimsuit was a red string bikini that was printed with tropical flowers. She had gladiator sandals and a wide sunhat. She brought a tote bag with all the supplies they'd need: snacks, sunscreen, towels, and aloe vera in case Noctave's skin got burned.

"Do you want me to apply it on you, Noctave?"

Noctave laughed. "If you need an excuse to rub my back, you could just ask. Otherwise, I'll just apply it myself."

This was just the latest failure of Dia trying to be smooth and seductive with Noctave. The moon goddess could run circles around her in that respect.

After some swimming-well, more like Noctave holding onto Dia because she can't swim-they took a break to just sit on the beach and have some snacks.

As Noctave re-coated her body in sunscreen, a thought came to her mind.

"Hey, Dia?"

Dia was taking a cat nap in the afternoon sun. "Hm?"

"If you were an animal, what sort of animal would you be?"

"A horse. Why do you ask?"

"It's just some question that I thought would give me an interesting answer."

Dia sat up, adjusting her sun hat. "Ok, then what's your favorite animal."

"If I had to choose one, crab."

Dia looked at her, greatly confused. "Crab. As in the red, multi-legged, bottom feeders?"

"They're not bottom feeders! And not all of them are red."

"Crabs are just a weird choice of a favorite animal."

Noctave huffed. "Well, maybe for you."

A yellow crab approached Noctave, an envelope in its pinschers.

Noctave took the envelope from their pincers, opening it.

"It's an invitation from Baris, the Crab King!"

"There's a crab king? Crustaceans have royalty?"

"They don't, but Baris is such a massively powerful crab spirit that no one bothers to argue about it. You can come with me. I'm sure he looks forward to seeing my new lover." She winked at Dia.

"Is he on anyone's side-?"

"Baris? Nah, he's a violent pacifist."

Dia thought it sounded strange, but held her tongue.

"Sounds cool, but how are we getting there?"

As she finished her sentence, there was a burst of golden light, Dia and Noctave finding themselves in a great, circular hall, filled with light, treasure, and a gigantic golden crab. Baris.

"Well, what perfect symmetry we have here," said Baris "The sun and moon are together now. I bet your parents are at each other's throats now." If crabs had human mouths, Baris would be smiling maniacally.

Noctave was about to say something when Dia stepped in front of her to confront the crab. "Stay out of our business, Barrin."

To Dia's surprise, Baris laughed, greatly amused. "Well, it's not exactly a secret that the dark and the clouds hate each other with a passion. And the rainbows haven't been the nicest to the stars. I don't see why, the stars haven't hurt anyone."

"Why do you call them that?"

Baris stares at her from dewy eyes. "Because that's what they are. Sapient and powerful nature spirits."

Dia held Noctave close to her. "Alright. Why have you invited us here?"

"I heard Noctave had a new gf, so I wanted to celebrate that!"

Noctave struggled out of Dia's embrace. "Did you get Charging Hippo to play for us?"

"Of course! Every crab around has come to meet with you!"

Dia felt underdressed for the occasion, even though it was a casual party.".

"I still think that I should be wearing more than a bikini."

"No, Baris is a "come as you are" kind of crab."

Most of the guests that arrived were crabs. Lots of crabs in all shapes and sizes. All of them crowding around Noctave, surrounding her. Dia panicked at the sight, holding her close to her. She kept her away from the crabs and Baris, afraid of them all.

Noctave, annoyed by this, pulled her away to a connecting room.

"I see that you're scared, but there's no reason that you have to be so overprotective of me. I can handle crabs fine."

Dia was shocked, thinking that her show of over-protectiveness hid her fear. "You know I'm scared? How?"

"You wouldn't have such a firm grip on my arm if you felt comfortable here."

Dia sighed. "I'm sorry, Noctave. If I feel scared, I'll tell you."

"Do you want to leave?"

Dia didn't want to leave Noctave alone, but she wasn't having a lot of fun here.

"Yes. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. You don't have to stay if you don't want to. Baris!"

Baris was in the middle of drinking some hard liquor.

"What is it, Noctave?"

"Teleport Dia back to the beach. She wants to go back there."

Baris bowed to the princess. "But of course, moon goddess."

Dia was teleported back to the beach. It was sunset, and she packed up her things and headed to the castle. She wished that Noctave had fun with Baris, even though she wasn't a fan of him.